diff --git a/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md b/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md
index a939a34738b5..e338892831d8 100644
--- a/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md
+++ b/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md
@@ -74,3 +74,72 @@ for normal keywords. In addition it accepts these keywords:
 * `mo_targets` *required*: mo file generation targets as returned by `i18n.gettext()`.
 
 *Added 0.62.0*
+
+
+### i18n.pot_extractor()
+
+``` meson
+i18n.pot_extractor(args: [...], required: true)
+```
+
+Find the `xgettext` program, and return a `PotExtractor` object.
+`args` are a list of arguments to provide to `xgettext`.
+If `required` is `true` and `xgettext` cannot be found, it will result in
+an error.
+
+This function is to be used when the `gettext` function workflow it not suitable
+for your project. For instance, our project is a monorepo with several libraries
+and some executables depending of those libraries. We need to extract translations
+from each library, but for each executable, we want to generate a pot file with
+only the translations from the linked libraries (transitively). 
+
+*Added 1.7.0*
+
+#### `PotExtractor` methods
+
+##### `found()`
+
+Return `true` if `xgettext` program was found, `false` otherwise.
+
+##### `extract()`
+
+Positional arguments are the following:
+
+- name `str`: the name of the resulting pot file.
+- sources `list[str|File|build_tgt|custom_tgt]`:
+          source files or targets. May be a list of `string`, `File`, [[@build_tgt]],
+          or [[@custom_tgt]] returned from other calls to this function.
+
+Keyword arguments are the following:
+
+- merge `bool`:
+        if `true`, will merge the resulting pot file with extracted pot files
+        related to dependencies of the given source targets. For instance,
+        if you build an executable, then you may want to merge the executable
+        translations with the translations from the dependent libraries.
+- install `bool`: if `true`, will add the resulting pot file to install targets.
+- install_tag `str`: install tag to use for the install target.
+- install_dir `str`: directory where to install the resulting pot file.
+- alias `list[build_tgt]`:
+        a list of build targets using the same resulting pot file. For
+        instance, if you build both a static and a shared library from the
+        same sources, you may specify the static library target as an alias,
+        to use the generated pot file when that static library is used as a
+        dependency of another target.
+
+The `extract()` method returns a [[@custom_tgt]].
+
+
+Usually, you want to pass one build target as sources, and the list of header files
+for that target. If the number of source files would result in a command line that
+is too long, the list of source files is written to a file at config time, to be
+used as input for the `xgettext` program.
+
+The `merge: true` argument is to be given to targets that will actually read
+the resulting `.mo` file. Each time you call the `extract()` method, it maps the
+source targets to the resulting pot file. When `merge: true` is given, all
+generated pot files from dependencies of the source targets are included to
+generate the final pot file. Therefore, adding a dependency to source target
+will automatically add the translations of that dependency to the needed
+translations for that source target.
+
diff --git a/docs/markdown/snippets/i18n_extract.md b/docs/markdown/snippets/i18n_extract.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9c44a55cd349
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/markdown/snippets/i18n_extract.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+## i18n module pot_extractor
+
+There is a new `pot_extractor` function in `i18n` module that acts as a
+wrapper around `xgettext`. It allows to extract strings to translate from
+source files.
+
+This function is convenient, because:
+- It can find the sources files from a build target;
+- It will use an intermediate file when the number of source files is too
+  big to be handled directly from the command line;
+- It is able to get strings to translate from the dependencies of the given
+  targets.
+
diff --git a/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py b/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
index 551e0b36fab6..f40cd5a1dbce 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from os import path
+from pathlib import Path
+import itertools
 import shlex
 import typing as T
 
@@ -13,8 +15,10 @@
 from ..options import OptionKey
 from .. import mlog
 from ..interpreter.type_checking import CT_BUILD_BY_DEFAULT, CT_INPUT_KW, INSTALL_TAG_KW, OUTPUT_KW, INSTALL_DIR_KW, INSTALL_KW, NoneType, in_set_validator
-from ..interpreterbase import FeatureNew, InvalidArguments
-from ..interpreterbase.decorators import ContainerTypeInfo, KwargInfo, noPosargs, typed_kwargs, typed_pos_args
+from ..interpreterbase import FeatureNew
+from ..interpreterbase.baseobjects import ObjectHolder
+from ..interpreterbase.exceptions import InterpreterException, InvalidArguments
+from ..interpreterbase.decorators import ContainerTypeInfo, KwargInfo, noPosargs, noKwargs, typed_kwargs, typed_pos_args
 from ..programs import ExternalProgram
 from ..scripts.gettext import read_linguas
 
@@ -24,7 +28,7 @@
     from . import ModuleState
     from ..build import Target
     from ..interpreter import Interpreter
-    from ..interpreterbase import TYPE_var
+    from ..interpreterbase import TYPE_var, TYPE_kwargs
 
     class MergeFile(TypedDict):
 
@@ -65,6 +69,21 @@ class ItsJoinFile(TypedDict):
         its_files: T.List[str]
         mo_targets: T.List[T.Union[build.BuildTarget, build.CustomTarget, build.CustomTargetIndex]]
 
+    class PotExtratorT(TypedDict):
+
+        args: T.List[str]
+        required: bool
+
+    class PotExtractorExtract(TypedDict):
+
+        merge: bool
+        install: bool
+        install_dir: T.Optional[str]
+        install_tag: T.Optional[str]
+        alias: T.List[T.Union[build.BuildTarget, build.BothLibraries]]
+
+    SourcesType = T.Union[str, mesonlib.File, build.BuildTarget, build.BothLibraries, build.CustomTarget]
+
 
 _ARGS: KwargInfo[T.List[str]] = KwargInfo(
     'args',
@@ -115,6 +134,166 @@ class ItsJoinFile(TypedDict):
 }
 
 
+class PotExtractor(mesonlib.HoldableObject):
+
+    def __init__(self, xgettext: ExternalProgram, args: T.List[str]):
+        self.xgettext = xgettext
+        self.args = args
+
+        self.pot_files: T.Dict[str, build.CustomTarget] = {}
+
+    def found(self) -> bool:
+        return self.xgettext is not None and self.xgettext.found()
+
+    def extract(self,
+                name: str,
+                sources: T.List[SourcesType],
+                merge: bool,
+                install: bool,
+                install_dir: T.Optional[str],
+                install_tag: T.Optional[str],
+                alias: T.List[T.Union[build.BuildTarget, build.BothLibraries]],
+                interpreter: Interpreter) -> build.CustomTarget:
+
+        if not name.endswith('.pot'):
+            name += '.pot'
+
+        source_files = self._get_source_files(sources, interpreter)
+
+        arguments = self.args.copy()
+        arguments.append(f'--directory={interpreter.environment.get_source_dir()}')
+        arguments.append(f'--directory={interpreter.environment.get_build_dir()}')
+        arguments.append('--output=@OUTPUT@')
+
+        depends = list(self._get_depends(sources)) if merge else []
+        rsp_file = self._get_rsp_file(name, source_files, depends, arguments, interpreter)
+        inputs: T.List[T.Union[mesonlib.File, build.CustomTarget]]
+        if rsp_file:
+            inputs = [rsp_file]
+            depend_files = list(source_files)
+            arguments.append('--files-from=@INPUT@')
+        else:
+            inputs = list(source_files) + depends
+            depends = None
+            depend_files = None
+            arguments.append('@INPUT@')
+
+        ct = build.CustomTarget(
+            '',
+            interpreter.subdir,
+            interpreter.subproject,
+            interpreter.environment,
+            [self.xgettext, *arguments],
+            inputs,
+            [name],
+            depend_files = depend_files,
+            extra_depends = depends,
+            install = install,
+            install_dir = [install_dir] if install_dir else None,
+            install_tag = [install_tag] if install_tag else None,
+            description = 'Extracting translations to {}',
+        )
+
+        for source_id in self._get_source_id(itertools.chain(sources, alias)):
+            self.pot_files[source_id] = ct
+        self.pot_files[ct.get_id()] = ct
+
+        interpreter.add_target(ct.name, ct)
+        return ct
+
+    def _get_source_files(self, sources: T.Iterable[SourcesType], interpreter: Interpreter) -> T.Set[mesonlib.File]:
+        source_files = set()
+        for source in sources:
+            if isinstance(source, mesonlib.File):
+                source_files.add(source)
+            elif isinstance(source, str):
+                mesonlib.check_direntry_issues(source)
+                source_files.add(mesonlib.File.from_source_file(interpreter.source_root, interpreter.subdir, source))
+            elif isinstance(source, build.BuildTarget):
+                source_files.update(source.get_sources())
+            elif isinstance(source, build.BothLibraries):
+                source_files.update(source.get('shared').get_sources())
+        return source_files
+
+    def _get_depends(self, sources: T.Iterable[SourcesType]) -> T.Set[build.CustomTarget]:
+        depends = set()
+        for source in sources:
+            if isinstance(source, build.BuildTarget):
+                for source_id in self._get_source_id(source.get_dependencies()):
+                    if source_id in self.pot_files:
+                        depends.add(self.pot_files[source_id])
+            elif isinstance(source, build.CustomTarget):
+                # Dependency on another extracted pot file
+                source_id = source.get_id()
+                if source_id in self.pot_files:
+                    depends.add(self.pot_files[source_id])
+        return depends
+
+    def _get_rsp_file(self,
+                      name: str,
+                      source_files: T.Iterable[mesonlib.File],
+                      depends: T.Iterable[build.CustomTarget],
+                      arguments: T.List[str],
+                      interpreter: Interpreter) -> T.Optional[mesonlib.File]:
+        source_list = '\n'.join(source.relative_name() for source in source_files)
+        for dep in depends:
+            source_list += '\n' + path.join(dep.subdir, dep.get_filename())
+
+        estimated_cmdline_length = len(source_list) + len(arguments) + sum(len(arg) for arg in arguments) + 1
+        estimated_cmdline_length += len(self.xgettext.command) + sum(len(c) for c in self.xgettext.command) + 1
+        if estimated_cmdline_length < 8000:
+            # Maximum command line length on Windows is 8191
+            # Limit on other OS is higher, but a too long command line wouldn't
+            # be practical in any ways.
+            return None
+
+        rsp_file = Path(interpreter.environment.build_dir, interpreter.subdir, name+'.rsp')
+        rsp_file.write_text(source_list, encoding='utf-8')
+
+        return mesonlib.File.from_built_file(interpreter.subdir, rsp_file.name)
+
+    def _get_source_id(self, sources: T.Iterable[T.Union[SourcesType, build.CustomTargetIndex]]) -> T.Iterable[str]:
+        for source in sources:
+            if isinstance(source, build.Target):
+                yield source.get_id()
+            elif isinstance(source, build.BothLibraries):
+                yield source.get('static').get_id()
+                yield source.get('shared').get_id()
+
+
+class PotExtractorHolder(ObjectHolder[PotExtractor]):
+
+    def __init__(self, pot_extractor: PotExtractor, interpreter: Interpreter) -> None:
+        super().__init__(pot_extractor, interpreter)
+        self.methods.update({
+            'extract': self.extract_method,
+            'found': self.found_method,
+        })
+
+    @typed_pos_args('PotExtractor.extract', str, varargs=(str, mesonlib.File, build.BuildTarget, build.BothLibraries, build.CustomTarget), min_varargs=1)
+    @typed_kwargs(
+        'PotExtractor.extract',
+        KwargInfo('merge', bool, default=False),
+        KwargInfo('alias', ContainerTypeInfo(list, (build.BuildTarget, build.BothLibraries)), listify=True, default=[]),
+        INSTALL_KW,
+        INSTALL_DIR_KW,
+        INSTALL_TAG_KW,
+    )
+    def extract_method(self, args: T.Tuple[str, T.List[SourcesType]], kwargs: PotExtractorExtract) -> build.CustomTarget:
+        if kwargs['install'] and not kwargs['install_dir']:
+            raise InvalidArguments('PotExtractor.extract: "install_dir" keyword argument must be set when "install" is true.')
+
+        if not self.held_object.found():
+            raise InterpreterException('PotExtractor.extract: "xgettext" command not found.')
+
+        return self.held_object.extract(*args, **kwargs, interpreter=self.interpreter)
+
+    @noPosargs
+    @noKwargs
+    def found_method(self, args: TYPE_var, kwargs: TYPE_kwargs) -> bool:
+        return self.held_object.found()
+
+
 class I18nModule(ExtensionModule):
 
     INFO = ModuleInfo('i18n')
@@ -125,6 +304,7 @@ def __init__(self, interpreter: 'Interpreter'):
             'merge_file': self.merge_file,
             'gettext': self.gettext,
             'itstool_join': self.itstool_join,
+            'pot_extractor': self.pot_extractor,
         })
         self.tools: T.Dict[str, T.Optional[T.Union[ExternalProgram, build.Executable]]] = {
             'itstool': None,
@@ -398,6 +578,23 @@ def itstool_join(self, state: 'ModuleState', args: T.List['TYPE_var'], kwargs: '
 
         return ModuleReturnValue(ct, [ct])
 
+    @FeatureNew('i18n.extract', '1.7.0')
+    @noPosargs
+    @typed_kwargs(
+        'i18n.pot_extractor',
+        _ARGS,
+        KwargInfo('required', bool, default=True),
+    )
+    def pot_extractor(self, state: ModuleState, args: TYPE_var, kwargs: PotExtratorT) -> PotExtractor:
+        tool = 'xgettext'
+        if self.tools[tool] is None or not self.tools[tool].found():
+            self.tools[tool] = state.find_program(tool, required=kwargs['required'], for_machine=mesonlib.MachineChoice.BUILD)
+
+        xgettext = T.cast(ExternalProgram, self.tools[tool])
+        return PotExtractor(xgettext, kwargs['args'])
+
 
 def initialize(interp: 'Interpreter') -> I18nModule:
-    return I18nModule(interp)
+    mod = I18nModule(interp)
+    mod.interpreter.append_holder_map(PotExtractor, PotExtractorHolder)
+    return mod
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/meson.build b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c2e101e585c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/meson.build	
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+project(
+    'gettext extractor',
+    'c',
+    default_options: {'default_library': 'static'},
+    meson_version: '1.7.0',
+)
+
+i18n = import('i18n')
+pot_extractor = i18n.pot_extractor(
+    args: ['-ktr', '--add-comments=TRANSLATOR:', '--from-code=UTF-8'],
+    required: false,
+)
+
+if not pot_extractor.found()
+    error('MESON_SKIP_TEST xgettext command not found')
+endif
+
+subdir('src')
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib1/lib1.c b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib1/lib1.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..723edda00637
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib1/lib1.c	
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#include "lib1.h"
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#define tr(STRING) (STRING)
+
+void say_something(void)
+{
+    printf("%s\n", tr("Something!"));
+}
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib1/lib1.h b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib1/lib1.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6199d29c4ec6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib1/lib1.h	
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#ifndef LIB1_H
+#define LIB1_H
+
+void say_something(void);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib1/meson.build b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib1/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..efbabf03d2bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib1/meson.build	
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+lib1 = library('mylib1', 'lib1.c')
+lib1_pot = pot_extractor.extract('lib1', lib1)
+lib1_includes = include_directories('.')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib2/lib2.c b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib2/lib2.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..051271ec703d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib2/lib2.c	
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#include "lib2.h"
+
+#include <lib1.h>
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#define tr(STRING) (STRING)
+
+void say_something_else(void)
+{
+    say_something();
+    printf("%s\n", tr("Something else!"));
+}
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib2/lib2.h b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib2/lib2.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..faf693f7ceb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib2/lib2.h	
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#ifndef LIB2_H
+#define LIB2_H
+
+void say_something_else(void);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib2/meson.build b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib2/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..30ca2af7cf0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/lib2/meson.build	
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+lib2 = library('mylib2', 'lib2.c', include_directories: lib1_includes, link_with: lib1)
+lib2_pot = pot_extractor.extract('lib2', lib2)
+lib2_includes = include_directories('.')
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/main.c b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/main.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..807096bd7925
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/main.c	
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#include <lib2.h>
+
+int main(void)
+{
+    say_something_else();
+
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/meson.build b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bf5d064583c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/src/meson.build	
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+subdir('lib1')
+subdir('lib2')
+
+main = executable('say', 'main.c', link_with: [lib2], include_directories: lib2_includes)
+
+main_pot = pot_extractor.extract('main', main, install: true, install_dir: 'intl', install_tag: 'intl', merge: true)
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/test.json b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/test.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9bb82eb4664a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/38 gettext extractor/test.json	
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+    "installed": [
+        { "type": "file", "file": "usr/intl/main.pot" }
+    ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file